War CriminalsThe horrible truth about the slaughter at Haditha is finally coming out. The
media is belatedly covering this mainly because a congressman concerned about
the deterioration of U.S. troops on the ground chose, for his own reasons, to
expose previous cover-ups. This has led to fresh investigations of other
atrocities once dismissed as enemy propaganda.

Of course, there can be no excuse for the gunning down, execution style, of
unarmed noncombatants, including children. While rage at seeing a comrade killed
is understandable, the individuals who pulled the triggers have to be held
accountable for their crimes.

But they are not the only ones who should be in the dock. The rules of
engagement for the “war on terrorism” make such incidents inevitable. The Geneva
Conventions no longer apply. The troops have been taught that every Iraqi (or
Afghan) is a potential, indeed likely terrorist. It’s best to shoot first and
ask questions, if necessary, later. If there is regrettable “collateral damage”
compensation will sometimes be offered to families of the victims and
appropriate apologies will be made.

More often than not though the victims are blamed. The killing of an Italian
diplomat and driver, and the serious wounding of an Italian journalist just
released by kidnappers on their way to the airport, was considered justified
under the rules of road side checks. Likewise the recent killing of two women
rushing to a hospital as one of them was going into labor. No time to hesitate
when the enemy is everywhere. The enemy must be killed or captured–and kill gets
top billing.

We can’t afford to ignore Haditha. But we’re hypocrites if we at the same time
ignore the master war criminals–starting with Bush and Blair, including the top
brass, and encompassing the “opposition” politicians who have given their
blessing to the phony, criminal “war on terrorism.’

A Landmark Statement On Immigrant Rights
The Farm Labor Organizing Committee has filled an urgent need for the immigrant
worker rights movement with a concise but comprehensive statement of
principles.
It deserves wide circulation and discussion among not only the immigrant but
broader labor movement as well.

Some highlights:

* “The FLOC position has always been a path to permanent residency for all
immigrants who have come to support their families and are making important
contributions to local economies and communities. FLOC also calls for
reunification of separated families on different sides of a border.”

* “FLOC President Baldemar Velásquez has called for all workers in countries
bound by ‘free trade’ agreements to have the right to seek jobs in any of those
countries. FLOC also calls for full labor rights for all workers.”

* “The FLOC position is that immigration ‘enforcement’ is largely a false issue,
serving mainly to provide government monitoring of all workers.”

* “FLOC members and leaders are opposed to militarizing the Mexican border,
which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths in recent years as people
seeking opportunities to support their families have been forced to take more
dangerous routes across the border.”

* “FLOC leaders have stated that punishing desperate people for seeking
opportunities to support their families and escape oppression, building walls,
and other ‘enforcement’ provisions will never stop migration, while U.S.
policies such a ‘free trade’ agreements play a major role in the forces driving
global migration.”

* “We have continually asked who is benefitting from restrictive policies? Whose
power is being supported by catering to prejudice and hate? Whose wealth is
being increased with billions of dollars delegated to building a border wall?

“While we are glad the Senate bill considers legal residency for some
undocumented immigrants seeking opportunities to support their families, FLOC
leaders find both the Senate and House bills are based largely on the lowest
standards of human rights, and the political process beginning has been to
compromise towards these lowest standards.

“As in all social issues, we are deciding what kind of society will we be?

“FLOC's standard is the same as the United States Declaration of Independence,
the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Bill of Rights, and the international
Declaration of Human Rights, which is largely inspired by the U.S. Bill of
Rights and to which the United States was a key author and signer:

‘everyone is entitled to full human, civil, due process, and working rights
... justice is for all human beings, without exception.’

“This standard is not negotiable”!

Doesn’t Sound Kosher
The current major economic and social issues in American society are becoming
increasingly exposed in a tiny unlikely venue–Postville, a small town in
northeast Iowa. That’s the home of AgriProcessors, the biggest producer of
kosher beef and poultry products in the USA, and the only American company
licensed to export meat to Israel.

Even if you are not a consumer of “Aarons’ Best” kosher meats you may have heard
of this company. Maybe it was around the EPA suing them for violations of the
Clean Water Act. Perhaps you saw the clandestine video PETA released showing the
cruel slaughter practices at their plant. Then there was the time the EEOC
investigated charges of supervisors demanding favors from their workers. There
was some publicity about this plant receiving 25 percent of all OSHA citations
in the Iowa meat industry. Or you may have picked up some news about their
successful union-busting campaign against a UFCW organizing drive last year.

AgriProcessors has carried out a highly successful business plan. With capital
accumulated from textile operations back east they picked up a bankrupt, very
nonkosher packinghouse facility in Postville for a song. Finding their initial
workforce of eastern European Jewish immigrants too costly they have recruited
hundreds of Latino immigrants to replace them in this town with a population of
about 2,000.

Wages start out at six bucks an hour. Health insurance is available–for fifty
bucks a week. Straight time Sunday work is common. The plant observes only one
Christian holiday–Christmas. The largely Latino workforce does get to stay home
on major Jewish holidays–without pay. It’s no wonder their major kosher
competitor, UFCW-organized Empire, claims they can’t compete and are laying off
workers.

Only Solidarity
“only solidarity will bring us through the crisis of Capitalist Disorder.”
That’s the concluding sentence of a thoughtful examination of
Black Labor Fights 'Disorder' of Globalization by Glen Ford and Peter Gamble in the
Black
Commentator. It’s well worth a read and I plan to comment on it soon.

Cutting Perks
“Sen. Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, faulted [Governor] Corzine for looking to the
rest of New Jersey to pay for lavish union benefits instead of going to the
unions and asking for cuts.” Normally I don’t pay much attention to such
anti-worker whining of politicians. But then I read a little further, and it
turns out Senator Sweeney is also the business manager for Ironworkers Union
Local 399.

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